1. Fossil Fuels Are Running Out - According to the Worldwatch Institute's 1999 State of the World report (Flavin and Dunn, 24), oil resources will probably not last through the end of the 21st century. Some geologists estimate that we have already consumed roughly half of the extractable oil resource. And, "Meeting the growing needs of China, India, and the rest of the developing world in the way industrial countries' demands are met today would require a tripling of world oil production, even assuming no increases in industrial-country use. Yet production capacity in 2020 is unlikely to be much above current levels--and may well be declining" (Flavin and Dunn, 25).
2. Combustion of Fossil Fuels Releases the Greenhouse Gas CO2, Resulting in Global Warming - CO2 levels have increased over 30% since the Industrial Revolution, with levels increasing 17% just since 1958 (Dunn, 86). Over this same time period, global average temperatures have increased 0.6 degree Celsius, and the 1990's have been shown to be the warmest decade in the past 1000 years (Dunn, 86). Much evidence implies that CO2 and other human-produced greenhouse gases are to blame for the increased temperatures and the resulting rise in sea level, melting of glaciers, dying of coral reefs, and spreading of infectious diseases that have become apparent in recent years. Please see the U.S. EPA website on global warming for more details.
3.Extraction and Transport of Fossil Fuels Cause Environmental Damage - For an overview of some of this damage, check out this site.
4. Combustion of Fossil Fuels Causes Acid Rain and Air Pollution - The nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx) produced by the burning of fossil fuels combine with water in the atmosphere to produce nitric and sulfuric acids, leading to acidic rain and other forms of precipitation. Small particulates released by fossil fuel combustion increase lung cancer rates and exacerbate other respiratory illnesses. For example, "Each year, coal burning is estimated to kill 178,000 people in China alone" (Flavin and Dunn, 25). Please review the U.S. EPA website on acid rain for more details.